17-year-old rescued from becoming third wife

A 17-year-old girl has been rescued from an alleged marriage that would have made her the third wife of a 24-year-old man in Ntchisi.

The girl, a Standard 3 school dropout, was rescued by police on Wednesday after community structures raised the alarm over the alleged marriage.

Ntchisi Police public relations officer Sub-Inspector Salomy Zgambo has confirmed the arrest of the man, identified as Kalikokha Mazoni of Ngwata Village, Traditional Authority Chikho.

According to Zgambo, the incident occurred on September 16, 2026, at Mbali Village under Traditional Authority Chikho.

Police received a report from a child protection worker, a Community Policing Forum member and a mother group under Senior Chief Chikho.

The community structures reported that Mazoni had allegedly married the girl as his second wife.

Acting on the report, police officers went to Mbali Village, where the girl had been staying since August 17, 2026, and rescued her.

The officers later proceeded to Ngwata Village, where Mazoni was staying with his first wife, and arrested him.

The girl is currently being kept at the Victim Support Unit pending further medical examination.

Police said the girl has alleged that she is three months pregnant.

Mazoni is expected to appear in court soon to answer a charge of having sexual intercourse with a minor.

Zgambo has commended the community structures for reporting the matter and helping police rescue the girl.

Police have also warned that marrying or having sexual relations with a person under the age of 18 is a criminal offence under Malawian law.